In the Battle of Castalla (21 July 1812) a small Spanish army commanded by Joseph O’Donnell advanced to attack an Imperial French division under the leadership of Jean Isidore Harispe. O’Donnell’s battle plan was poorly conceived and the outnumbered French smashed his center column before his right and left wings could intervene. The engagement occurred during the Peninsular War, part of the Napoleonic Wars. The battle was fought near Castalla, 32 kilometres (20 mi) north-west of Alicante, Spain.